An uncommon and poorly known butterfly found mostly in the Coastal Plain. As the name implies, it's often confused with Northern Cloudywing (q.v. for diagnostic field marks to look for) and Southern Cloudywing.

I spotted this individual on a field trip to The Nature Conservancy's Green Swamp Preserve with Harry LeGrand, Jeff Pippen, Rob Van Epps, and Taylor Piephoff. Jeff and I kept track of it until Rob and Taylor could come see it, and Jeff, Rob, and I all eventually got photographs of this rare lep.

Brunswick Co., NC 5/15/04.

Confused Cloudywing's face is pale, like Southern's and unlike Northern's dark face. Confused also has prominent white spectacles around the eyes.

A worn individual on the first Brunswick County butterfly count.

Brunswick Co., NC 8/25/07.

Confused Cloudywing's host plants are poorly known. I noticed this butterfly seemed to be ovipositing on a small legume with many small leaflets. Harry spotted this spherical, creamy-white, ribbed egg and also identified the plant as Tephrosia florida (Florida Hoarypea).